Operation Shanela keeps on sweeping clean throughout the Northern Cape Province leaving no criminal behind during the festive season

Media Statement
South African Police Service
Office of the Provincial Commissioner Northern Cape

KIMBERLEY – Operation Shanela, the multi-disciplinary, intelligence driven high-density crime prevention and combatting operation has an enormous impact in stabilising and fighting crime in all five districts of the province.

The high-density operations which commenced on 16 December 2024 until 22 December 2024 across the province and executed 26, 056 actions such as regular stop and searches; vehicle checkpoints; roadblocks; cordon and searches; high visibility patrols including foot patrols; tracing of wanted suspects with a focus on the apprehension of murder and rape suspects; compliance inspections at liquor outlets’ businesses and second hands goods dealers.

The following operational actions and successes were recorded across the five districts.

Multiple Vehicle Check Points and roadblocks were conducted, during which 6881 vehicles and 13, 147 persons were stopped and searched. Numerous disruptive actions included police stop and search actions, blue light high visibility patrols and several compliance inspections were conducted at second-hand dealers, scrapyards, shebeens, taverns, liquor outlets and businesses.

A total of 460 suspects including wanted suspects were apprehended during tracing operations executed by detectives. The arrested suspects were detained for various crimes ranging from murder, shoplifting, assault on police members, assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, assault common, undocumented immigrants, possession of suspected stolen property, theft, copper cable, dealing in drugs, possession of drugs, malicious damage to property, Burglary Residential, Burglary Business, Driving under the influence of drugs, illegal dealing in liquor theft and warrant of arrest.

The Provincial Commissioner for the Northern Cape, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, thanked members for their efforts in the reduction of all categories of crime and commended District Commissioners, Senior Management, external law enforcement agencies and stakeholders including the community policing forum structures in leading and participating in the Shanela Operations during the Festive Season. We laud you for robustly combatting crime by discouraging criminal activities and by reassuring our communities that their safety is of paramount importance during the Festive Season and beyond.

Ends

Enquiries:
Lt Col Sergio Kock
082 494 9982

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